Cairo / Information Office / March 03

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the meetings of the 155th regular session of the Council of the Arab League at the ministerial level today come at a time when the Arab world is facing enormous challenges and imminent threats due to the continuing disputes and conflicts that displaced millions who need help and provision of the minimum basic humanitarian needs to address their daily conditions, especially in light of the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic that has killed nearly two million people and infected millions others.

In a speech before the Council after assuming the presidency of the 155th session of the Council, His Excellency said, "From this standpoint, we must intensify and double our joint Arab action, set frameworks for collective security and fruitful cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, and ensure commitment to unify our positions and overcome our differences to address all the challenges facing our region in the security, political, economic, health and other fields, and achieve the aspirations of our peoples and countries for stability, security and development."

He added, "In this regard, we renew our appreciation for the "Al-Ula declaration" issued by the 41st GCC summit which was held recently in the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ended the Gulf crisis that lasted three years," adding that the State of Qatar welcomed this declaration based on its policy and firm conviction that constructive dialogue is the way to solve differences peacefully. There is no doubt that ending this crisis and activating the Al-Ula declaration will positively affect the strengthening of Gulf and Arab relations and the consolidation of stability in the region, he pointed out.

His Excellency renewed the State of Qatar's appreciation for the Kuwaiti mediation efforts made by HH the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah which were continued by HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, reiterating the State of Qatar's thanks to all brotherly and friendly countries that contributed to ending this crisis.

In the context of the challenges that our Arab world faces today, the Palestinian cause remains at the top of our priorities, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said, renewing the State of Qatar's firm position in support of all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, adding that the just and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian cause can only be achieved and accepted by adhering to the principle of a two-state solution based on international law, the Charter and resolutions of the United Nations and in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the establishment of a Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also said that the State of Qatar renews the call to the international community to work seriously to resume the peace process, end the occupation and settlement of the occupied Arab territories, find just solution to the refugee issue and force the Israeli authorities to refrain from all attempts to annex the land, seize and demolish Palestinian properties, encroach on Palestinian sanctities, and judaize the city of Jerusalem.

His Excellency affirmed that all practices by the occupation authority are null, void and baseless, have no legal situation on the ground, and contradict all United Nations resolutions, reiterating the State of Qatar's support to all efforts exerted to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation and its appreciation to conducting the elections and unifying the Palestinian position in confronting the challenges facing the Palestinian cause.

His Excellency pointed to the State of Qatar's continuing supportive role for the Palestinian people, noting that HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani had directed the allocation of a financial grant to the Gaza Strip in the amount of USD360 million over one year, starting from January 2021. This grant will be paid to employees and as financial assistance to needy families as well as to manage power stations to reduce the deterioration of humanitarian conditions and difficult living conditions in the Gaza Strip, he said, calling on everyone to continue providing humanitarian support to the Palestinian people in order to alleviate the humanitarian crises and economic difficulties they face.

Regarding the situation in Libya, His Excellency said that the State of Qatar welcomes one again the election of representatives of the interim executive authority in Libya, and looks forward to seeing that this important step paves the way towards a comprehensive political solution that respects the rights of the Libyan people and establishes a state of law and civil institutions.

His Excellency stressed the need for all Libyan parties to adhere to the scheduled election date and work to achieve comprehensive reconciliation to achieve the aspirations of the Libyan people for security, stability and development. He appreciated the efforts of the United Nations mission in Libya in ending this crisis.

Regarding the Syrian crisis, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in his speech, said that nearly a full decade has passed since this crisis during which the brotherly Syrian people suffered and are still suffering and they were subjected to heinous crimes and grave violations that breach the provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The international community must ensure that all those responsible for these violations and crimes are held accountable and brought to international criminal justice, he said, reiteration the State of Qatar's support for the efforts made by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with Geneva Agreement 1 and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2245 in a manner that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and preserves the unity, sovereignty and stability of this country.

On Yemen, His Excellency stressed the State of Qatar's firm position on the importance of preserving the unity of Yemen and achieving its security and stability, and the need to end the state of war, adopt dialogue and a political solution, achieve national reconciliation, and return to the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue agreed upon by the political forces and all spectrums of the Yemeni people as a basis for ending this crisis and implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution No. 2216.

With regard to Somalia, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed that the State of Qatar expressed its grave concern about the recent developments in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, calling on all Somali parties to exercise calm, avoid escalation, adopt a policy of restraint, and resolve differences through political dialogue and peaceful means to achieve the aspirations of the Somali people for security, stability and development.

Concluding his speech, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani wished the meeting success in achieving its desired goals.